St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-26

e never presented but one name for the
# same office. 1t has been lntlmated that
NJ ] recommended some one else for col
ii lector, and then withdrew his name and
gave my support to Senator Jonas,
ID There is not one word of truth IN this
Il statement, not word. Mr.. Blanchard.
Mr.. King, Mr.. Gay. Mr.. lrion know my
/ relations with the president, with
themselves. and with every appoint
ment we recommended, and how hard
we had to work to get all the Republl-
cans in tits state turned out and Demo-
Gratis appointed by the president.
They know too how difficult 1t was IN
~. nearly all cases to act, Tor when we
wed one friend we disappointed
I-4ffany, many others.
gave my recommendations to gentle
men representing
ALL FACTIONS IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY,
and to none outside of it. The chief
federal institutions in this state are
presided over by Hon. 3. +. Jonas. the
collector of customs, and Hon: Gabriel
Moutegut, superintendent of the mint.
and the Hon. G. w. Mott, postmaster of
New Orleans, and Hon. Richard Sin
mott, surveyor of the port, and Hon: IL.
=. kernochan, naval officer, and Hon.
Reuben Peasants, United States mar
shall. They represent the power and pa
bronage of the federal government, and
do not think they constitute any po-
titlcal combination in any public mans
Interest. and surely not in mine.
The array of names must silence my
Rccusers. Look over these names. Mr..
Sinnott and MIR. Peasants were not
more grateful than Mr. Jonas or Mr.
kernochan or Mr.. Moncegut or Mr.. Ere
ret; and they knew cot what tho cir
cumstances were that had to deal with
in Washington. But these are the pres
ident's and not my appointments, and
/ dismiss the subject. So much for
these Washington matters. | confess
have tried
TO BRING LOUISIANA INTERESTS
closer to Washington and Washington
closer to Louisiana, but not with the
view of ovcrshadowing our political
affairs by the political situation at
Washington.
No man has to the extent OF his abili-
ty striven more earnestly to uphold the
principles of free institutions, state
hood and pride in tho manhood and
sturdy independence and self-reliance
of our people and all those old funda-
mental doctrines that constitute the
safeguards of municipal liberty and
personal rights. | look with dlSfayor
upon every movement, whether in tho
national or in state affairs, that tends
to the GENERALIZATION of power. L ne
danger to our liberties is not in the
army or navy, but in the slow depar-
ture of power from the many to the few
aud in the disregard of the ma1ims and
teachings of the fathers and the usages
of the old Democratic party.
/ remember as If it were yesterday
when the stalwart organs and office
holders of the Republican party de-
clared that the security of the vast as
ISOLATED wealth in this country and do
sstica9ehce and the prosperity or the
party reqf%1ired q strong man in the eX-
ecunYe chair, and that the necessities
Of tne nor demanded the extension of
E E exc tive power In the person of
Ueneral Grant for q longer period than
eighty ars-
~ THE LIMIT SET
~ ~ se example of the Father of his
- ~ cry. by the teachings and example
N sfferson, Madison and Jackson and
hA.Northies of the land. No presi-
in the hundred years of our e1-
81 nee as a nation has held the office of
# %Aident for more than eight years.
# Ills is not an accident. 1t is o we'll
hHhed principle, based upon the
nSFten law-lU is the common law of
a have been twGnty-one gov
yN this state, and not one has en-
Wthe hands of the people ten
dhce beyond eight years.
s-~6 than this, the constitution of
1SA3@te-every one Of them-made
oa0rethe war. in that long period of
Calm, when our statesmen brought
greater experience and learning to the
public councils, forbid two consecutive
, Terms to the office of governor, and
many of our sister states still preserve
uaRtice.
1here must be a reason-many and
stfon& reasons for this custom and
these COZ Institutional limitations. Now
followed tizens, it you will bear with
me mYment, | will endeavor to state
some of them.
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENTS
are divided into the executive and jn-
dicial and legislative departments. each |
distinct from the other. The power
lodged in the legislative branch is diff |
FUSED and shared by many. 1t is lodged |
in two houses, independent of one an |
other and one acting as o check upon |
Ihe other. The national legislature Is |
in session generally about seven or
eight months in one wear and only three
In the succeeding year, unless called in
extra session by the executive. In our
state it meets only once for term of |
sixty days every two years. Its func-
ton is merely to make the laws, and |
then when it adjourns the members dis
perse and return to their homes and to
their occupations. with no more power
than private citizens. And SO the Judi
cial power is distributed among sep
arate courts having different iurisdic-
Mons, presided over by many jud ges of
higher or lower degree, and judgments
are reviewed and scrutinized by many
minds before they become final. But
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE POWER
is concentrated in the hands and will of
single citizen. 1t is always in session:
1T never adiourns; 1t fills all appoiptiye
offices and all VACANCIES in the elective
offices. By its authority the peoples
money is collected and expended. 1t
superviseS all contracts. 1t is charged |
with the execution of the laws, with |
the appointment of assessors to value
your property for taxation, with the
appointment of your local legislators,
the police jurors, the appointment of
the returning officers for each parish.
W no appoins the commissioners of cleo
tTons. / do not find fault with the sys.
tenn. 1t Is perhaps necessary and wise.
Surely the governor cannot be be
blamed that these great powers are
spiaced in his hands.
Hat 1T is precisely because under our
constitutional systems of government
such vast powers are lodged in the chief
executive that by constitutions, time
honored presidents and customs, Iimi-
tations have been placed upon the
tenure of the chief executive power.
The great objection. is that the long
continued exercise of this power by the
chief executive tends to build IN a
body of officials in the party appointed
by his favor, whose efforts are natu-
rally given to continue in power the
persons under whom they hold, and it
further creates the feeling in the minds
OF the people that there will be greater
security against domestic violence, and
that strong man is more voluab BILE than
free institutions.